Tomkins bailed after assault charge

West Ham United defender James Tomkins has been bailed after being charged with assaulting a police officer outside a nightclub.

The incident happened the night after West Ham's 3-1 loss at Manchester United. Tomkins, 24, played the full 90 minutes of the defeat.

A statement from Essex Police read: "A man is due to appear in court next month (January) after he was charged with assaulting a police officer outside a nightclub in Brentwood.

"Police had been contacted by security staff from Brentwood's Sugar Hut Village shortly before 12:30am on Sunday, December 22 following reports of a disturbance.

"Officers arrived and arrested James Tomkins before later charging him with one count of assaulting a police officer, one count of resisting arrest and one count of being drunk and disorderly in a public place."